Butterfly (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) sightings


Butterflies, along with moths (which are not dealt with in this section), belong to the Order Lepidoptera. We have over 400 species of butterfly in Australia. Our local butterflies belong to five families: the Skippers (Hesperiidae), Blues (Lycaenidae), Nymphs (Nymphalidae), Swallowtails (Papillionidae), and the Whites and Yellows (Pieridae).

While there are a handful of butterfly species which can be observed on the wing at any month of the year, the butterfly season is generally from September through to April. Most species will fly for only a part of the season however. Butterflies prefer warm, sunny, calm weather, and it will be much easier to find butterflies in these conditions. Some species also prefer to fly at a certain time of the day. It is often easier to observe butterflies at high points in the landscape like hill summits, as the males of many species of butterfly will congregate at such points to set up breeding territories; this behaviour is called hilltopping. Another easy way to find butterflies is to locate flowering plants and watch what butterflies come to visit.

When taking photos of butterflies, it is most helpful to obtain images of both the upperside (dorsal) view of the wings, in addition to the underside (ventral) view of the wings. This makes the identification process much easier for some of the hard-to-identify species. If possible, including features of the butterfly’s surrounds for context can be helpful for determining the relative size of the butterfly. Bear in mind that as a butterfly ages, it can become quite tatty and faded, so that it may have chunks of a wing missing, or appear much paler than it otherwise appears in photos.

Butterflies are the adult stage of the life cycle (so it’s important to note that if you see a small butterfly, it is not going to grow into a larger one, it will stay the same size!). Adult butterflies are the life stage responsible for the reproduction and dispersal of the species; the females lay eggs singly or in clusters on or near the larval food plant; these eggs then hatch into larvae (caterpillars) which are the life stage responsible for eating and growing; these then form a pupa (chrysalis) where the larval stage transforms into the adult butterfly. Some species will overwinter as eggs, or as larvae, or as pupae. Some species are migratory and do not overwinter here at all, and some species are only occasional vagrants to our area.

Further reference on Australian Lepidoptera by one of our Moderators Don Herbison-Evans can be found on the following web pages:



Page 42 of 132 - image sightings only

Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Bundanoon, NSW - 24 Sep 2023 by Aussiegall
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Tuggeranong, ACT - 24 Sep 2023 by LPadg
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Tuggeranong, ACT - 23 Sep 2023 by George
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Belconnen, ACT - 23 Sep 2023 by Steve_Bok
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Carwoola, NSW - 23 Sep 2023 by trevorpreston
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Lower Borough, NSW - 23 Sep 2023 by mcleana
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Murrumbateman, NSW - 23 Sep 2023 by SimoneC
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Holder, ACT - 23 Sep 2023 by Miranda
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Higgins, ACT - 22 Sep 2023 by Trevor
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Higgins, ACT - 22 Sep 2023 by Untidy
Nacaduba biocellata (Two-spotted Line-Blue) at Murrumbateman, NSW - 22 Sep 2023 by SimoneC
Nacaduba biocellata (Two-spotted Line-Blue) at Borough, NSW - 22 Sep 2023 by Paul4K
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Holder, ACT - 22 Sep 2023 by Miranda
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Isaacs, ACT - 21 Sep 2023 by Mike
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 21 Sep 2023 by galah681
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Braemar, NSW - 20 Sep 2023 by Curiosity
Eurema smilax (Small Grass-yellow) at Tuggeranong, ACT - 20 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Tuggeranong, ACT - 20 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Tuggeranong, ACT - 20 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Trapezites phigalia (Heath Ochre) at Kambah, ACT - 20 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Nacaduba biocellata (Two-spotted Line-Blue) at Belconnen, ACT - 20 Sep 2023 by Christine
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Coree, ACT - 20 Sep 2023 by NathanaelC
Nacaduba biocellata (Two-spotted Line-Blue) at Belconnen, ACT - 20 Sep 2023 by Christine
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Majura, ACT - 19 Sep 2023 by JBrickhill
Paralucia aurifera (Bright Copper) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 19 Sep 2023 by Christine
Paralucia aurifera (Bright Copper) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 19 Sep 2023 by SWishart
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 19 Sep 2023 by SWishart
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at Greenway, ACT - 18 Sep 2023 by roman_soroka
Delias aganippe (Spotted Jezebel) at WendyM's farm at Freshwater Ck. - 17 Sep 2023 by WendyEM
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at Strathnairn, ACT - 17 Sep 2023 by AlisonMilton
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Braidwood, NSW - 16 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Bruce, ACT - 16 Sep 2023 by AlisonMilton
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Braidwood, NSW - 16 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Braidwood, NSW - 16 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Latham, ACT - 16 Sep 2023 by LD12
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Wodonga, VIC - 16 Sep 2023 by KylieWaldon
Erina sp. (genus) (A dusky blue butterfly) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 15 Sep 2023 by Mavis
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Acton, ACT - 15 Sep 2023 by Christine
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 15 Sep 2023 by Steve_Bok
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Tuggeranong, ACT - 14 Sep 2023 by HelenCross
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Braidwood, NSW - 14 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart) at Chapman, ACT - 13 Sep 2023 by SWishart
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Kambah, ACT - 13 Sep 2023 by SWishart
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Paddys River, ACT - 13 Sep 2023 by JohnBundock
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Stromlo, ACT - 13 Sep 2023 by SWishart
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Watson, ACT - 11 Sep 2023 by RodDeb
Delias aganippe (Spotted Jezebel) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 11 Sep 2023 by JohnBundock
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Tuggeranong, ACT - 10 Sep 2023 by Mike
Euploea corinna (Common Crow Butterfly, Oleander Butterfly) at Victoria Point, QLD - 9 Sep 2023 by PJH123
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Tallong, NSW - 9 Sep 2023 by Aussiegall
Argynnina cyrila (Forest Brown, Cyril's Brown) at Tallong, NSW - 9 Sep 2023 by Aussiegall
Hypocysta metirius (Brown Ringlet) at Narrawallee, NSW - 9 Sep 2023 by trevorpreston
Ogyris amaryllis (Satin Azure) at Victoria Point, QLD - 9 Sep 2023 by PJH123
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Cooma, NSW - 7 Sep 2023 by trevorpreston
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Braidwood, NSW - 7 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Acton, ACT - 7 Sep 2023 by ConBoekel
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Acton, ACT - 7 Sep 2023 by ConBoekel
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Booth, ACT - 7 Sep 2023 by RAllen
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 7 Sep 2023 by JohnBundock
Lampides boeticus (Long-tailed Pea-blue) at Aranda, ACT - 6 Sep 2023 by NateKingsford
Erina sp. (genus) (A dusky blue butterfly) at Canberra Central, ACT - 6 Sep 2023 by stofbrew
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Kambah, ACT - 6 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Tuggeranong, ACT - 6 Sep 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Chisholm, ACT - 6 Sep 2023 by roman_soroka
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Coree, ACT - 4 Sep 2023 by JohnBundock
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Canberra Central, ACT - 3 Sep 2023 by Christine
Erina hyacinthina (Varied Dusky-blue) at Canberra Central, ACT - 3 Sep 2023 by Christine
Delias aganippe (Spotted Jezebel) at Leinster, WA - 2 Sep 2023 by HelenCross
Erina acasta (Blotched Dusky-blue) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 2 Sep 2023 by JohnBundock
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Penrose, NSW - 2 Sep 2023 by Aussiegall
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at West Wodonga, VIC - 2 Sep 2023 by KylieWaldon
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Macgregor, ACT - 31 Aug 2023 by Roger
Erina acasta (Blotched Dusky-blue) at Paddys River, ACT - 31 Aug 2023 by RAllen
Paralucia aurifera (Bright Copper) at Paddys River, ACT - 31 Aug 2023 by RAllen
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Paddys River, ACT - 29 Aug 2023 by Johnpic
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) at Braidwood, NSW - 29 Aug 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Paralucia aurifera (Bright Copper) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 29 Aug 2023 by RAllen
Erina hyacinthina (Varied Dusky-blue) at Borough, NSW - 27 Aug 2023 by mcleana
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) at Tuggeranong, ACT - 26 Aug 2023 by owenh
Lucia limbaria (Chequered Copper) at Tuggeranong, ACT - 26 Aug 2023 by owenh
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) at Dunlop, ACT - 25 Aug 2023 by Christine
Erina acasta (Blotched Dusky-blue) at Belconnen, ACT - 24 Aug 2023 by CathB
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Theodore, ACT - 24 Aug 2023 by owenh
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 24 Aug 2023 by RAllen
Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Batemans Bay, NSW - 23 Aug 2023 by Hejor1
Euploea corinna (Common Crow Butterfly, Oleander Butterfly) at Capalaba, QLD - 23 Aug 2023 by TimL
Erina sp. (genus) (A dusky blue butterfly) at Yass River, NSW - 21 Aug 2023 by SenexRugosus
Erina hyacinthina (Varied Dusky-blue) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 21 Aug 2023 by JohnBundock
Erina acasta (Blotched Dusky-blue) at Borough, NSW - 21 Aug 2023 by Paul4K
Erina sp. (genus) (A dusky blue butterfly) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 20 Aug 2023 by JT1997
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Wellington Point, QLD - 19 Aug 2023 by TimL
Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart) at Wellington Point, QLD - 19 Aug 2023 by TimL
Euploea tulliolus (Purple Crow) at Magnetic Island National Park - 16 Aug 2023 by WalkYonder
Tirumala hamata (Blue Tiger) at Magnetic Island National Park - 16 Aug 2023 by WalkYonder
Melanitis leda (Evening Brown) at Ormiston, QLD - 16 Aug 2023 by TimL
Papilio ulysses (Ulysses Butterfly) at Germantown, QLD - 10 Aug 2023 by AlisonMilton
Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) at Braidwood, NSW - 10 Aug 2023 by MatthewFrawley
Erina hyacinthina (Varied Dusky-blue) at Moruya, NSW - 7 Aug 2023 by LisaH
Eurema hecabe (Large Grass-yellow) at Glen Isla, QLD - 7 Aug 2023 by AlisonMilton
Danaus affinis (Marsh Tiger) at Glen Isla, QLD - 7 Aug 2023 by AlisonMilton

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1,907,630 sightings of 21,393 species from 13,190 contributors
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